Chamber is the largest employer representative body in the Island, a vibrant association of members from all business sectors who are dedicated to the promotion of trade, commerce and the general prosperity of Jersey.

Lobbying Victory for Chamber on Waste Charges

Wednesday 11 October 09:31

More than twelve months of lobbying against the waste charges have paid off, with Scrutiny confirming the introduction of a liquid and solid waste charge will be delayed until 2019 so that a thorough consultation with commerce can take place.

The Jersey Chamber of Commerce is delighted by confirmation from Scrutiny that the introduction of the Waste Charges has been delayed until 2019.

The decision to delay these charges and take time to carry out a thorough consultation with commerce, regarding the negative impact it will have on businesses, especially those in the tourism and hospitality sectors, is absolutely the right thing to do.

Andy Jehan, Chair of the Chamber Transport and Tourism Committee said: “The Chamber of Commerce has been lobbying government and the States on these charges for more than a year now, the decision to delay their introduction marks a common sense approach to policy making. For twelve months our members have been calling on the States for a proper consultation, a real opportunity to discuss the rate of the charge and how there is a very real threat that some businesses, such as hotels, could close as a direct result of it”.

“I am pleased to see Scrutiny acknowledge their own disappointment, that the consultation work was not carried out properly in the first instance, a sentiment echoed by Chamber and its members. We now look forward to taking part in fully consultive and meaningful discussions regarding the Waste Charge, which we hope will include a review of alternative fund streams, such as a tourism charge, which the end user would pay for.”

Charges of this nature must be made in collaboration with Jersey's commercial sector. The Jersey Chamber of Commerce exists to support all of our members and will continue to lobby against ill-conceived and damaging changes to our commercial landscape.